Wichita eagle., 1887-10-02
KANSAS CITY CONSENTS.
The Times Throws up the Sponge and
Acknowledges That Wichita Has
Got There
Special Correspondents ansss CITY Times

the country OF us magnitude which Ia
attracted the measure Of popular attention
g of which she has been for the past fv
years the center, and the story of her DIE
nomenal growth possesses much Of tn
fascination OF an engaging fiction. Tt,
question as to whether Wichita will "ge
5 there is 10 longer in order. She is Their,
and she Is there to stay. The town stand
as magnificent monument of intelligen
enterprise, and holds within herself til,
elements OF substantial and enduring
, prosperity. 1t is quite impossible to con
template the animated scenes which thu
splendid business thoroughfares of Wichits
present TO the eye; to survey the imposing
structures OF BRICK and stone which rise IL
architectural grace and beauty on all hands
10 feel ana know that the single purpose OF
advancing the interests Of the town actuatee
all the people, without succumbing to the
conviction that there are still greater things
IN store for this wonderful young metropo
lis OF the southwest than have vet been re-.
vealed
There is much, very much, In the natural
conoitlons by means of which Wichita has
attained to her present commercial impor-
lance to inspire confidence In her fufure
First and best Of all, she is In the center of
|
ever smiled upon She possesses the
facilities for transportation afforded by six
independent lines of railroads She Is the
| jobblng mart for score or more of f1onr.
ishfng Kansas towns. She has RECOGNIZED
the vital importance of fostering labor, and
no industry is too small to merit her fayors.
BILE consideration. The number of light
| manufacturing enterprises which Wich1ta
possesses exceeds 100, and carshops, watch
works, packing houses and an extensive
plow factory are among the assured things
Of the near future. All branches of legiti
mate trade are prosperous, the hotels are
crowded to overlooking every night. and
building is going on with undated activity
Speaking of building, take pleasure in
noting that the recent collapse of the new
opera house at this place has drawn the
attention OF the community to the necessity
Of greater care in the erection of large
structures for public purposes. The shat
tered walls Of the adobe temple of art
which erstwhie reared Its graceful and too
airy proportions to the skies will be RACED
TO the ground, and the site will be crowned
by an edifce, which, l am assured by the
sanguine architect, will be fully ADEQUATE to
the flercest tests to which 1t may be sub
jected by such popular attractions as Emma
Abbott and ''Uncle Toms Cabin" not to |
speak of Grace Hawthorne and Haverlv's |
Minstrels.
A sojourn Of a week or ten DAYS In
Wichita will do very much to modify the
impressions OF more superficial observa-
ton OF the town. The place presents to the
traveller, upon his first introduction TO It,
many OF the features Of a frontier settle
ment, and this tone is greatly accentuated
by the heterogeneous character of the popu
latlon, not to speak Of certain architectural
which have resulted from the
rapid development of the
town. Upon Che crowded thoroughfares
OF the Peerless Princess of the Plains the
polished cosmopoli;e jostles the noble red
man OF the forest, who stalks the streets IN
the bravery of his original garb, and scouts.
rangers and cowboys are noticeable
figures in the animated and picturesque
scene. A distinct nomadic quality is i'm
parted to the picture by the multiplicity of
-ents which have been pitched by various
classes Of vendors along the great business
arteries of the city, and here it is that the
knights OF the sombrero and of the seven.
shooter edo most congregate" in harmony
With the inalienabe rights OF death. liherfv !.
and the pursuit of happiness, Irrespective !.
)f medical, mechanical and scientific linf-
atoms. This element, regret to say, has
proved source of prejudice to the reputa-
ion OF Wichita as polite center by reason &c
If the misapprehension which its presence I
las produced In the minds of casual oh [
ervers, to the effect that the class is o rep
entative one. and that the civilization here S
generally of the wild flavor of the Y
ange and the hacienda. Never YVES there Q
more fallactous conclusion. l have been t
most hopefully impressed with the rapid q
multiplication of the means for the djffu S
Ion of intelligence which abound here on T
very hand, ard seven institutions of learn. c
ng In various stages of construction rise in
loQuent refutation Of the effete fallecv
hat the sum of popular enlightenment is /
q an inverse ratio to the approach to the S
ixth principal meridian S
rejoice also to be able to testify to the
xistence at Wichita of a scrupulous re- I
ard Tor what Emerson terms the ''refiue- .
lents and decorations Of civil society" and G
prevalent thirst for the achievement of 8 a
ruly elegant culture has manifested itself e
D me In variety Of agreeable and con-
incing tokens For instance, there are es .
many as two Wichita families now travel b
lg abroad, or, to employ q proyincialisn
Which seems to he In favor here, are do b
1g Europe. Upon the train which car Il
led me to this point was highly agreea- e
lie party OF Wichita people, and learned
y the popular demonstration at the railroad V
epot In honor OF their return that thew had Il
pent the season at Chautauuua. This s.
cen appreciation on the part Of the people 1
the inestimable advantages Of travel Is u
} my mind a very hopeful indication and
annot fail TO insure the most satisfactory t
ssults. The defiant manner In which fl
lany of the society ladies here anglicize b
lie French phrases with which Trey so r
inerlash their graceful persi. I
age has not escaped my attention; but on /
lie other hand, have derived encourage f
tent from the answering employment Of o.
lie Italian "a and their strict adherence TO h
lie British pronunciation of either" and f
neither" The young men, so far IS | o.
ave been able to observe, have fore. E
wore spring bottom trousers and padd, Il a,
and do not no y recall. In nro h
ssedly polite circles, more than one In.
ance of the depraved habit of carving 3 a
9th brush and comb In the vest pocket fe
he cabinet organ is giving place 70 the "a
ano, the chrome Is gradually being 81 in
,rcedtd by more exalted Interpretations of Sc
l. aui the erudities of the past are being n
pidly obliterated in the reflnements of . Ge
ore graceful era a
Apropos of the spread of estheticism At W
'ichits, the reader. am certain, will be th
once surprised and delighted thst this 81
irit finds rs choicest eff ,resceace. its pi
chest fruition, where he would last seek ou
In an editors SanCtum 1t goes without sc